Thursday, February 7, 2013

Yesterday I was able to visit the home of a creative genius named Brenda. I was introduced by Pamela (of "From My Front Porch To Yours blog). It turns out the three of us live right here in the same neighborhood!Our friend had the most beautiful home. I could have stayed in her craft room for days. I know we must have chastised her 3 separate times for not having a blog, because such beauty and artistic flair should not be hidden from the world. I had to leave shortly after the tour to pick up a "sick" child from school. But I didn't leave without a few goodies, a new piece of art and a whirlwind of decorating and crafting ideas swirling around in my brain. Here is a little tour of Brenda's house, mostly her Valentin'es Day decor... HERESo today, I got out the trusty glue gun...some doo-dads, trims, sparkle and paper...and here's what I came up with. Please don't laugh. Remember...I was going for whimsical!

Why a duck? I have no idea. I found a few of these vintage ducks, in original packaging, at a thrift store for .25 cents each. They just makes me smile.

And then I went to town on this sheep, which I almost threw away the other day. I got this for a couple bucks in a gift shop somewhere and then didn't like it. Looks much better with some embellishments!

I love feeling inspired! It's such a wonderful feeling to be passionate about creating. It takes your mind off of everything else in the world. You get lost within yourself and use a part of your brain that is usually asleep. Everyone has this part of the brain, but some believe they don't or ignore it. Kinda like the math side of my brain I guess.

Monday, February 4, 2013

This week is week 52, and guess what? We started Cowgirl Up one year ago! (Oh I guess you figured that out with it being week #52 and all.) This party is special because of you dear friend. You are the special ingredient that makes this party work. We're taking off our hats to you. Now I'm ready to introduce our special guest host, Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict. I love her and I know you probably already do, but if you don't know her, I'll let her speak for herself. Take it away, Debbie...Hi, Cowgirl Up readers!

I am Debbie and I am so excited to have been invited to joinall of those wonderful ladies from Texas…Anita, Samantha, Linsey and Amanda…for the Cowgirl Up linky party!

I already feeling right at home here since I had the honor of hanging out with these talented ladies for their Christmas in July party!

Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I blog at Confessions of a Plate Addict where I am aided by my sassy feline staff. In a nutshell, I am a retired French teacher who loves anything French.I am also blessed to be the grandmother of three wonderful boys!

And yes…I love plates!

And I have to show you my favorites…my vintage French Quimper collection!Why plates? My addiction began when I was living in France for a year(What a experience!)where lovely plates are an essential part of life!

The birth of my first grandson brought me back home to Georgia...

but not without some ideas for making my home into my own little corner of "France"…the best of both worlds!

And so I embarked on a mission to create frenchiness…on a budget!(I am a retired teacher, you know!)

I am a natural born copy-cat, so I have created my own “vintage” French linens…

…and put French words on anything that sits still long enough to let me!

And once I figure out how to make something, I share how I did it…so my blog is packed with lots of tips and tutorialsso you can add frenchiness to your home, too, if you would like!

Add in some fun thrifting and antiquing…

…and top if off with travel...to places where French is spoken, of course…and there you have my blog!

SoI hope you will drop by, make yourself at home and have a look around!

You are always welcome!

And thanks again to the Cowgirls for inviting me to co-host!

Now…let’s get this party started!

** Want to be a Guest Host here on Cowgirl Up? Just leave a comment with your name and blog address below! If you are selected, you will be introduced in the Cowgirl Up post for that week, and we'll include a link to your blog. We’ll send you the code for the party ahead of time. Lots of fantastic exposure for you, and the post is written for you! On to this week's features chosen by Anita of Cedar Hill Ranch

(I hope you got to see my blog featured in the February issue of Romantic Homes magazine.

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up! You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!

Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

* When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs. Awesome!

* Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC (and if you have a linkyfollow account, then please follow that way too.)

* You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.

* You may link as many links as you want.

* Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post, (mine can be found on my sidebar.) Mandatory to be featured!!

* Be courteous and visit the two links before yours. Several projects will be featured each week!

* By linking up you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, that we may use those photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course.

*If you pin a project shown here, please, please pin from the original source.

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Thursday, January 31, 2013

Once every few days I carve out a few hours for myself, to sit down at my big long farm table in the dining room and make a mess of my own.

A beautiful mess.

Lace-y remnants, old sheet music and vintage tickets are so fun to play with. Do you see the little tea stained wired paper roses? They were hand made by a gal on Etsy. Aren't they darling? The dangerous part of having an Etsy shop is that it's like working at your favorite store. You end up spending lots of your "paycheck" there!

I love supporting small businesses and crafty artists though! I've been burnt out on the mass produced, mall shopping experience more and more the older I get. My first buying experience on Etsy was so special. When I recieved my little handmade item it was packaged so beautifully, with dainty vintage ribbons and embellishments. It even came with a little "thank you" and a tiny gift. At that moment I was hooked!

I also knew that I wanted to give my buyers that same feeling. So I include a goody bag with every purchase from my shop and let me tell ya, it's my favorite part of the experience! I just love creating these little presents. I always hope that the recipients open them and feel like I am giving them a sincere smile and a "thank you".

Here are some fresh bags in my new Etsy vintage cheese box. It's the perfect organizer!

More goody bag doo-dads and what-nots...

You'll even find a kid made art project or two. Up high. Away from 4 year old sister's hands.

And there may or may not be a stash of Mommy's favorite mini York peppermint patties in one of the tureens. For emergency crafting energy, of course.

And just in front of the dining room is this little side table. I just had to show you my new alarm clock! I purchased it while I was out with the my bloggy girls the other day in Old Town Spring.

Well...there it is. My happy place. When you just can't get a hold of me but you know I'm home, this is probably where I am. :)

Hey! I'm Kirsten, but you can call me Kiki. Pretty much everyone does. I'm stoked to be guest hosting Cowgirl Up! Every week I find major inspiration from the links and posts. You guys are all amazingly talented.

I have lived in Houston for ten years and just bought my first pair of
cowboy boots. I'll confess that I'm a little scared to wear them.

My blog, I Still Hate Pickles, is a little eclectic. On any given day you might catch me talking about parenting, writing, faith, DIY, and my kitchen adventures (which sometimes involve small kitchen fires). I like to keep things interesting.

Despite the fires, I really like to cook. I am a much better cook than baker because I like to be spontaneous and fudge recipes. Recently I started baking my own bread. Even if I find the recipe from someone else, I'm always finding ways to dress it up and make it my own. Nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread in the home! Even better when it's easy.

I have a few special things I bake only once or twice a year because they are so rich (and I might get tempted to eat the whole thing). You will never make another cake again after trying this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake. This used to be a fall specialty, but my friends and family now ask for it as their birthday cakes. These Special Occasion Cinnamon Rolls might put you into a coma.

If you want to step out of the kitchen, I love making projects. I used to have a small business painting children's furniture and murals, so I love getting creative. I am also really messy, but I feel like that is part of the fun. (Except when it comes time to clean up.) Here is a coffee filter wreath I made for a friend's baby shower. Check out this ugly thrift store before and the adorable after.

Just...ew.

To awwwww!

Every now and then I do tiny paintings, like this pair of cows that I dorkily gave as a gift to John and Sherry from Young House Love at their book signing. (Did I mention I'm a dork?)

If you're wanting something a little off-the-beaten path, you may want to check my Out-of-the-Box Mother's Day ideas or my thoughts on what life would be like if Pinterest projects became reality. I'm also doing a series on self-publishing through Amazon Kindle, if that's something you might consider doing in the future. I've got my MFA in Fiction but recently self-published an advent book and another book about our callings.

So glad to be here and be inspired by all the creativity! Hope you'll stop by and enjoy my blog in all its randomness. I love following blogs via Twitter as well, so if you are active there, come and find me so I can follow you back and keep up with your great ideas.

Kirsten/Kiki

***** Want to be a Guest Host here on Cowgirl Up? Just leave a comment with your name and blog address below! If you are selected, you will be introduced in the Cowgirl Up post for that week, and we'll include a link to your blog. We’ll send you the code for the party ahead of time. Lots of fantastic exposure for you, and the post is written for you! *****

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Hello everyone...or should I say HOWDY Y'ALL! I'm puttin' on my cowboy boots and doing the two-step, happy dance of joy to be an honorary host at COWGIRL UP this week!

Thanks so much Linsey, Anita, Amanda and Samantha... the ultimate, upscale cowgirls!

I'm Yvonne... a northern girl with a big southern heart! So I feel right at home with the Texas gals!

My blog is StoneGable.

StoneGable is the name of our home... yes, we name our homes!StoneGable, the blog, was started as a way to connect, teach, and inspire my sweet daughter who had recently married and moved to a different state. She would call and ask, "Mommy, how do you do this... or what was in that recipe... or how shall I decorate so-and-so?" It was my idea to give her... and my future generation... a visual journal of all things home... all things StoneGable... and a big dose of love along with it!

After three years of blogging, StoneGable's goals have expanded to include my wonderful readers too! I want to create a place that inspires others to live beautifully and creatively, embracing life and learning to fill their homes with love and joy! When you come to StoneGable, I hope you feel like you are visiting a good friend!

StoneGable is all about inspiring creative living...If you come by for a visit on Sunday evening or Monday, you will find my weekly menu and ON THE MENU MONDAY, a weekly linky party for all foodies... and anyone who need some tasty inspiration! Come on over and join the culinary fun!

I am a big DYI'er! If you drop by StoneGable on Wednesday evening or Thursday, you can be inspired by great TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS! TTT is my second linky party! I always say, "Show up and show off your creativity... any tidbit will do!"

Besides cooking and DYI projects, I have a passion for setting tables...

decorating ...

and much more. Stop by StoneGable...my front door is always open to friends... old and new!

Thanks again COWGIRLS!

Now let'start partying!!!

***** Want to be a Guest Host here on Cowgirl Up? Just leave a comment with your name and blog address below! If you are selected, you will be introduced in the Cowgirl Up post for that week, and we'll include a link to your blog. We’ll send you the code for the party ahead of time. Lots of fantastic exposure for you, and the post is written for you! *****

The four of us are all Texas bloggers, but you don't have to be Texas, country, western, or own horses to participate in Cowgirl Up! You just need that "can-do", cowgirl spirit!

Cowgirl Up! Link Party Guidelines

(Please read the guidelines before participating)

* When you link with Cowgirl Up!, your link will automatically show on four different blogs.

* Please follow your host blog before linking up on GFC (and if you have a linkyfollow account, then please follow that way too.)

* You may link up decor, DIY, crafts, guest post, recipes, giveaways, sewing, inspiring stories, and anything that you feel related to the listed categories.

* You may link as many links as you want.

* Be sure to include the Cowgirl Up! Button or text link to Cowgirl Up in your linked post, (mine can be found on my sidebar.) Mandatory to be featured!!

* Be courteous and visit the two links before yours. Several projects will be featured each week!

* By linking up you are agreeing that the photos are yours or that you have permission to use them, that we may use those photos to feature your project in a blog post, on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter with a link back to your blog of course.

*If you pin a project shown here, please, please pin from the original source.

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Welcome to the porch! Pull up a swing. My passions in life are art and antiquing. I dabble in design, photography and blogging. I really love old farmhouses and prairie chic style. I'm so glad you stopped by, please visit often!♥